the weight of bearing witness
Jeruzalem, maandag, 1 juni 2026.
after three and a half years, nasrah habiballah steps down as the nos correspondent in israel and the palestinian territories. her tenure, marked by relentless reporting through escalating violence, ended quietly on monday. she reported from oost-jeruzalem, often broadcasting from her rooftop as rockets flew. the period after october 7th brought constant breaking news and profound personal strain. she witnessed immense suffering, especially involving children, which deeply affected her. raising her own young daughter amid explosions intensified the emotional toll. despite facing discriminatory backlash and tense encounters, like one with a skeptical customs officer at ben-gurion airport, she remained committed to showing reality. her work gave dutch audiences critical insight during a dark chapter. now, she leaves for rotterdam, carrying the invisible scars of war journalism.
the weight of bearing witness
After three and a half years, Nasrah Habiballah steps down as the NOS correspondent in Israel and the Palestinian territories [1]. Her tenure, defined by intense conflict coverage, concluded on Monday, June 1, 2026 [2]. Based in Oost-Jeruzalem, she frequently delivered live reports from her rooftop amidst rocket attacks [1]. The period following October 7, 2023, became a relentless cycle of breaking news and deep personal struggle [2]. Witnessing widespread trauma, particularly involving children, profoundly impacted her emotionally [2].
personal cost of frontline reporting
Habiballah continued working throughout her pregnancy and gave birth to her first child in summer 2024 [1]. Raising her daughter Yarah, then nearly two years old, during nightly bombardments intensified the psychological burden [1]. She recalled holding her terrified toddler during nighttime explosions, questioning the toll on her family [1]. “Moeders met gewonde kinderen, ouders die de lichamen van hun dode kinderen bij elkaar moeten rapen, sowieso alles met kinderen raakt me meer,” she stated, reflecting on the cumulative distress [2].
navigating hostility and doubt
Throughout her posting, Habiballah encountered significant resistance due to her background and reporting focus [1]. Upon arrival in Israel on May 31, 2026, a customs officer challenged her journalistic integrity, suggesting her network labels Israeli actions as “genocide” rather than retaliation [1]. When asked why someone would travel far just to interview her, he dismissed the interest [1]. Earlier, her appointment in January 2023 drew unprecedented levels of discriminatory, sexist, and hateful responses, according to NOS editorial leadership [1].
legacy of truth-telling under fire
Despite adversity, Habiballah remained steadfast in documenting realities on both sides of the conflict [2]. Her dispatches offered Dutch viewers crucial understanding during a highly polarized and violent era [1]. She covered major escalations, including the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, subsequent warfare in Gaza, and later conflicts involving Iran and Lebanon in 2026 [1]. Her approach aligned with principles of peace journalism, analyzing conflict systematically [2]. Habiballah emphasized her views were irrelevant; her duty was to report facts impartially [1].
return to rotterdam, carrying memories
On June 1, 2026, Habiballah departed Israel with her filmmaker husband Joost van der Wiel and their young daughter [1]. They left behind most possessions, selling furniture and their car before boarding their flight [1]. Her final destination is Rotterdam, Netherlands, where they previously purchased a home [1]. While officially ending her role in May 2026 after announcing plans earlier that year, the ongoing regional wars prompted her to extend her service [1]. She described it as time to let go, acknowledging how difficult that release truly felt [2].